Dr. Efrem Vladimirovich Fudim was born in Zhmerinka, Ukraine on November 13, 1937. He was an only child of Vladimir Zelikovich Kleynerman and Maya Frovmovna Fudim. His father was reported missing during WWII and he was raised by his mother from the age of 3.

Efrem and his mother are Holocaust survivors and were in a ghetto during Nazi occupation from the time Efrem was 3 until 7 years old. The trauma he experienced during that time never completely left him. One of the most remarkable things about him was his inner strength. He was able to put the effects of the war aside and go on to have a very full life with an amazing career and family.

Efrem was married on July 24,1965 to Margarita Leontevna Sinayuk in Moscow, Russia where they met while he was living there during graduate school. They were married for 27 years and have one daughter, Natasha Fudim. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Vanessa Fudim Beeler, Reuben Fudim Beeler, and Dalton Fudim Beeler.

Efrem excelled in school and earned a PhD in engineering. He left Russia with his wife and daughter in 1979 and initially moved to New Jersey. He was quickly recruited by Johnson Controls which brought the family to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He worked for Johnson Controls for several years before forming his own company, Light Sculpting, Inc. which was involved in 3-D manufacturing. He invented one of the first 3-D printers in the 1980’s and held patents in many countries all over the world.

Efrem has traveled to many countries around the world. For his 70th birthday he and his daughter Natasha traveled back to Russia for the first time in 28 years after immigrating to the U.S. He moved to San Diego in 2014 to be closer to his daughter and grandkids. Efrem unconditionally loved his family and was very proud of his grandchildren.